Evaporative fuel-processing system for internal combustion engines

• US 5,617,832 A
• Filed: 06/04/1996
• Issued: 04/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hara, Takeshi, Wakashiro, Teruo, Yamazaki, Kazumi, Hidano, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, CARL STUART
• Application Number:
  US08/658,077
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: 123/520, 123/518, 123/519, 123/521, 123/516, 123/198 D
• US Class Current: 123/520
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/003 Adding fuel vapours, e.g. drawn from engine fuel reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0809 Judging failure of purge control system
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0836 Arrangement of valves controlling the admission of fuel vapour to an engine, e.g. valve being disposed between fuel tank or absorption canister and intake manifold
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/089 Layout of the fuel vapour installation

Abstract

An evaporative fuel-processing system for an internal combustion engine comprises an evaporative emission control system including a canister having an air inlet port formed therein for introducing atmosphere into the canister and accommodating an adsorbent for adsorbing evaporative fuel generated in the fuel tank. A charging passage connects between the canister and the fuel tank. A two-way valve is arranged across the charging passage. A purging passage connects between the canister and the intake system. A purge control valve is arranged across the purging passage. An ECU carries out leak-checking of the evaporative emission control system. A negative pressure responsive-type bypass valve is arranged across a bypass passage bypassing the two-way valve. A negative pressure responsive-type vent shut valve is disposed to open and close the air inlet port of the canister. The ECU controls the bypass valve and the vent shut valve to open and close, by means of negative pressure developed within the intake system.

Claims

1. An evaporative fuel-processing system for an internal combustion engine having a fuel tank and an intake system, comprising:

an evaporative emission control system including a canister having an air inlet port formed therein, for introducing atmosphere into said canister, said canister accommodating an adsorbent for adsorbing evaporative fuel generated in said fuel tank, a charging passage connecting between said canister and said fuel tank, a two-way valve arranged across said charging passage, a purging passage connecting between said canister and said intake system, and a purge control valve arranged across said purging passage;

leak-checking means for carrying out leak-checking of said evaporative emission control system;

a bypass passage bypassing said two-way valve;

a negative pressure responsive-type bypass valve arranged across said bypass passage; and

a negative pressure responsive-type vent shut valve disposed to open and close said air inlet port of said canister;

wherein said leak-checking means controls said bypass valve and said vent shut valve to open and close, by means of negative pressure developed within said intake system.

2. An evaporative fuel-processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said leak-checking means comprises communication passage means connecting said bypass valve and said vent shut valve to said intake system, an electromagnetic valve arranged across said communication passage means, for opening and closing said communication passage means, and control means for controlling said electromagnetic valve.

3. An evaporative fuel-processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said leak-checking means carries out said leak-checking of said evaporative emission control system by opening said bypass valve and closing said vent shut valve.

4. An evaporative fuel-processing system for an internal combustion engine having a fuel tank and an intake system, comprising:

an evaporative emission control system including a canister having an air inlet port formed therein, for introducing atmosphere into said canister, said canister accommodating an adsorbent for adsorbing evaporative fuel generated in said fuel tank, a charging passage connecting between said canister and said fuel tank, a two-way valve arranged across said charging passage, a purging passage connecting between said canister and said intake system, and a purge control valve arranged across said purging passage;

leak-checking means for carrying out leak-checking of said evaporative emission control system;

a negative pressure responsive-type vent shut valve disposed to open and close said air inlet port of said canister; and

a communication passage connecting between a portion of said charging passage between said two-way valve and said fuel tank and a portion of said purging passage between said purge control valve and said canister;

wherein said leak-checking means controls said vent shut valve to open and close by means of negative pressure developed within said intake system and controls said connecting passage to open and close.

5. An evaporative fuel-processing system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said leak-checking means includes an electromagnetic valve arranged across said communication passage, for opening and closing said communication passage, and control means for controlling said electromagnetic valve.

6. An evaporative fuel-processing system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said leak-checking means carries out said leak-checking of said evaporative emission control system by opening said communication passage and closing said vent shut valve.